Quick answer
- Yes, Ace Combat 8 has multiplayer. It lives in a separate mode called ACE COMBAT ONLINE, with its own progression and save data, apart from the campaign.[1]
- Crossplay: yes. Bandai Namco says matches and lobbies in ACE COMBAT ONLINE are "fully cross-play enabled", so you can team up with friends on any platform.[2]
- Main modes: Co-Op Assault (two teams of four race for the highest score against AI enemies) and Co-Op Warfare (two teams of four fight each other, with AI units on the battlefield too).[1]
- Biggest matches: up to 8 players, in Emergency Sortie and in 8-player free-for-all events.[1] The Air Base lobby holds up to 100 players, but that is a social hub, not a match.[3]
- Subscriptions: PS5 needs PS Plus for online play.[4] On Xbox consoles you need Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate.[5]
- Planes online are earned again. You use the same aircraft roster as the campaign, but online planes must be earned through rewards inside ACE COMBAT ONLINE.[1]
Every online mode at a glance
We merged this table from Bandai Namco's multiplayer FAQ, its Online Overview, the US online mode page and the official game page. Where they differ, the note says so.
| Mode | Who you fight | Team size | When you can play it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Op Assault | AI enemies (PvE). Two teams compete for the top score. | Two teams of four. One official guide says two to four per team (see the conflict below). | Core mode | [1][6][2] |
| Co-Op Warfare | The other team (PvP), with land, sea and air AI units also taking part | Two teams of four | Core mode | [1][7] |
| Scramble | A strong AI rival squad | Four players | Special mission that can appear randomly, for a limited time, while you play the two core modes | [1][8] |
| Emergency Sortie | Superweapons from across the Ace Combat series | Up to eight players | Same as Scramble | [9][1] |
| Team Deathmatch | The other team (PvP) | 4v4 | Limited-time event | [7][1] |
| Free-for-All Deathmatch | Everyone (PvP) | Eight players | Limited-time event | [7][1] |
| Military training (in the lobby) | Practice | Up to four players fly together | In the Air Base | [8] |
| Air Base hub | No combat. It is the social lobby. | Up to 100 players | The online lobby | [3][1] |
A few rules from the same pages:
- Rewards: in Co-Op Assault your rewards depend on your mission clear rank, and the winning team gets more.[8] Winning a Scramble or an Emergency Sortie gives bigger rewards.[7]
- Event limits: the limited-time missions "might also include unit cost limits or role restrictions".[7]
- Threat Level (Co-Op Warfare only): you earn stars by destroying targets and scoring without being shot down. More stars mean more points per kill, but also more points for the enemy if they shoot you down. At three stars you get the "Ace" title.[1]
Our calculation: two teams of four make 8 players in a full Co-Op Assault or Co-Op Warfare match. That is the same as the largest special mission (Emergency Sortie, up to 8) and the free-for-all event (8). It also matches the PlayStation Store listing, which says the game "Supports up to 8 online players with PS Plus".[4] No sourced match is bigger than 8. The 100 figure is only the lobby.
Is there co-op in the campaign?
We found no official statement of a co-op campaign. Bandai Namco describes ACE COMBAT ONLINE as a multiplayer-only mode with progression and save data kept apart from Campaign Mode.[1] All the co-op it describes (Co-Op Assault, Scramble, Emergency Sortie) is inside that online mode. In the campaign, your wingmen are story characters. In online play, Bandai Namco says they are other players.[8]
Crossplay and subscriptions by platform
Steam lists Online PvP, Online Co-op and Cross-Platform Multiplayer among the game's features.[10] Bandai Namco's multiplayer reveal also says players can join each other "regardless of their platform, with cross-play functionality."[6]
| Platform | What you need to play online | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | PS Plus. The store says online play is optional. | PlayStation Store[4] |
| Xbox Series X|S | Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate, sold separately (console only) | Microsoft Store[5] |
| PC (Steam) | No subscription is mentioned on the Steam page. We found no official statement either way. | Steam[10] |
Not confirmed: cross-platform progression (carrying your online save between platforms). Crossplay matchmaking does not prove it, and we found no statement about it. Linux players: see the anti-cheat note on PC requirements.
How online progression and planes work
Step by step, from Bandai Namco's own descriptions:
- Play online missions. They pay out in-game currency.[8] They also give Ace Pass XP: both the free and the premium tracks level up by "gaining XP by completing missions".[11]
- Raise your mercenary rank. Bandai Namco says the higher your rank, the more aircraft you can obtain.[8]
- Spend the currency at the ACE COMBAT Store in the Air Base, where it buys aircraft and cosmetic items.[8]
- Level up each plane. Planes gain levels as you fly them on missions. Levels raise their stats and unlock abilities unique to each aircraft. Online planes also take Upgrade Parts.[8]
- Collect Ace Pass rewards. The free Ace Pass is open to all players. Its rewards include cosmetic items and aircraft upgrades.[12] The Premium track adds credits, blueprints and supply tickets. Supply tickets can be exchanged for item packs at the Supply Shop.[13]
Campaign MRP is a separate system. Bandai Namco only says online progression is kept apart from the campaign and that online planes come from online rewards.[1] We found no official word that campaign MRP or campaign planes carry over to online, and no online plane prices. Campaign MRP tips are on MRP farming.
Season 1 Ace Pass rewards: free vs premium
Bandai Namco lists the Season 1 reward counts per track. We added the totals.[13]
| Reward | Free Ace Pass track | Premium track adds | Our calculation: total with Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playable aircraft | 0 | ADFX-02 Morgan -PIXY- | 1 |
| Aircraft skins | 12 | +13 | 12 + 13 = 25 |
| Aircraft emblems | 9 | +9 | 9 + 9 = 18 |
| Avatar costumes | 4 | +11 | 4 + 11 = 15 |
| Emotes | 0 | +1 | 1 |
Both tracks also include blueprints, boost tickets and aircraft banners, among other items. Finishing all 100 levels of both the Free and Premium tracks before the season ends gives 500 Ace Coins in total.[13] Each season lasts two months.[8]
Our calculation: the Premium Ace Pass Plus unlocks the first 30 of the 100 levels at once,[13] which is 30 ÷ 100 = 30% of the season track.
Bandai Namco says the game "does not include paid loot box mechanics".[12] The Morgan is the Premium pass's Level 1 reward in Season 1. Premium-pass planes are planned to go on sale separately after their season ends.[1] Edition and voucher details: Deluxe vs Standard and the Ace Pass.
Where official sources disagree
1. Team size in Co-Op Assault. The multiplayer reveal, the multiplayer FAQ and the Game Overview all describe two teams of four.[6][1][14] Bandai Namco Europe's September 22 "All You Need to Know" guide says Co-Op Assault uses "teams of two to four players".[2] We cannot tell from these pages whether a match can start with fewer than four per team.
2. Consumables. The same September 22 guide lists what higher rank can unlock as "upgrades, consumables, and customization" items.[2] The FAQ on Bandai Namco Europe's main game page says: "There are currently no plans to include consumables in the game", either for sale or as Ace Pass rewards.[12] We found no official correction, so both statements stand.
Not confirmed yet
- The minimum number of players needed to start a match
- Online aircraft prices and the rank needed for each plane
- Whether campaign MRP, planes or parts carry over to online
- The full rotation schedule for limited-time events
- Any online subscription rule for PC beyond what the Steam page shows
Sources & References
- Bandai Namco Europe: ACE COMBAT ONLINE Multiplayer Mode FAQ (PvP, Co-op, and More) ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
- Bandai Namco Europe: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE – All You Need to Know (Sep 22, 2026) ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4
- Bandai Namco Entertainment America: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Takes Flight Today (Sep 29, 2026) ↩ 1, 2
- PlayStation Store: Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve (PS5) ↩ 1, 2, 3
- Microsoft Store: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE (Xbox Series X|S) ↩ 1, 2
- Bandai Namco Entertainment America: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Multiplayer Reveal Showcases Series' Biggest Ever Online Modes (Sep 1, 2026) ↩ 1, 2, 3
- Bandai Namco Entertainment America: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE - ACE COMBAT Online (official site) ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Bandai Namco Europe: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE | Online Overview (Marketing Team, Sep 1, 2026) ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
- Bandai Namco Entertainment America: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE official site (FAQ section) ↩
- ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE on Steam (Features section) ↩ 1, 2
- Bandai Namco Entertainment America: Find Your Reason to Fight in Season One of ACE COMBAT ONLINE (Oct 1, 2026) ↩
- Bandai Namco Europe: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE official page (FAQ for Premium Ace Pass) ↩ 1, 2, 3
- Bandai Namco Europe: Find Your Reason to Fight in Season One of ACE COMBAT ONLINE (Oct 1, 2026) ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4
- Bandai Namco Entertainment America: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Game Overview (Sep 25, 2026) ↩